Residential Treatment Centers Defined…

Why the RTC program at Solstice East?

As one of the country’s most effective residential treatment centers, Solstice East provides teenage girls with an approach to healing that has been specifically developed to fit their needs. Whether it’s our uniquely designed equine program, or the clinical specialization and collaboration of our therapists, Solstice East is highly qualified to address the complex needs of adolescent girls on the road to healing.

Solstice East creates a safe, secure environment for teenage girls. This allows them to follow a path of self healing and reflection. Our program is family-focused and puts an emphasis on keeping in constant contact with our girls’ families through family therapy sessions, family seminars, multi-family groups, and experiential interventions. At Solstice East, self-sustaining, lifelong change is created through remarkable people and programming.

At Solstice East, the close-knit environment created by the milieu on campus encourages life-long friendships and positive growth. Unlike other residential treatment centers, Solstice East utilizes a combination of individual, family, group, experiential, and equine therapy to maximize the therapeutic experience of our students.

What are residential treatment centers?

“The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family.”- Mother Teresa

Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) are inpatient health care programs that provide therapy for behavioral issues, mental illness, and substance abuse problems that go beyond the capabilities of normal therapy methods. They provide a safe, secure environment for clients to solve these issues with trained professionals. Residential Treatment Centers geared toward adolescents provide treatment for issues and disorders like oppositional defiant disorder, depression, ADHD and bipolar disorder. Residential Treatment Centers often build communities of people who suffer from these conditions and utilize a community-like setting to heal their clients.

Often, residential treatment centers are targeted towards a specific age group or gender. This is done to allows treatments to be designed according to the specific needs of the targeted group. Many residential treatment centers offer secure facilities that allow for a safe environment for residents to heal and find success.

Who are residential treatment centers for?

Residential treatment centers can treat a variety of mental and behavioral health issues. Some are more focused on treating a specific set of mental health struggles such as oppositional defiant disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and bipolar disorder. Others treat a wide range of mental health struggles, such as depression, anxiety, and school refusal.

Residential treatment centers often offer comprehensive assessments that can help therapeutic professionals create specific treatment plans for struggling teens. Many residential treatment centers help teens who are doing poorly in school and/or who have trouble making friends. They also help teens struggling with defiant, disruptive behaviors stemming from a variety of underlying issues.

Research

In a recent study conducted by the American Psychological Association about residential treatment centers, it was found that teenagers suffering from internal problems such as anxiety and depression experienced a steady decline in their symptoms after spending time at an RTC.

In one of the largest studies about the impact of residential treatment centers on teens, social scientists Behrens and Satterfield monitored 993 youth in a longitudinal study and found significant positive changes in youth functioning between the time they entered the residential treatment center program and when they exited.

A recent study conducted by Dartmouth College found that students studied in residential treatment centers who received trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy from trained professionals experienced statistically and clinically significant improvements in depressive symptoms. The study concluded that TF-CBT is an effective way to treat trauma-related symptoms within surveyed populations within residential treatment centers.

One study conducted by Colgate University found that teens surveyed who attended residential treatment centers did not need psychiatric hospitalization after their time at a residential treatment center. Before attending a residential treatment center, an average student surveyed was suspended 1.5 times and ran away from home 1.1 times. After their experience at a residential treatment center, they did neither. Parents found improvements in behaviors like substance use, skipping school, and self harm. Additionally, researchers found an overall improvement in a teen’s ability to make friends, make good grades, and feel pleased with his or her behaviors.

Contemporary Articles

After emerging from a residential treatment center, Lovato said, “Recovery is a beautiful thing, friends. Life is good…”. Through the residential treatment center she went to, Lovato was able to find healthy ways to deal with her condition.

Another celebrity who has recently opened up about her experience in a residential treatment center is Kesha. Kesha attended a residential treatment center for eating disorder issues in 2014. She reportedly checked herself into a residential treatment center “in order love [her]self again”. Since attending a residential treatment center, Kesha has gone on to a successful music career.

Recently, Hayden Panettiere entered into a residential treatment facility to help her battle postpartum depression. She has openly discussed her struggles with depression since the birth of her daughter in 2014.

Kristen Bell recently opened up about her struggles with depression and anxiety. She released a letter discussing her battle with mental illness and the ways in which it has affected her life. She also discussed the importance of being open about mental illness and getting help as soon as possible.